• Image of Crinum americanum|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG

    Photo by JLBG taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC

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Crinum americanum

American Spider Lily

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 4178

Zones: 7a to 10b

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 20" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Shade

Origin: United States

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


This US native very closely resembles the South American Crinum erubescens, and according to bulb-guru Scott Ogden, the only difference is that C. americanum prefers to be grown in water in order to flower best. Obviously, then, bad drainage is critical in growing this species. The broad strap-like leaves form rosettes that are topped in mid to late summer with green flower scapes (red in C. erubescens) of white spider-like flowers, highlighted by the contrasting red anthers. C. americanum spreads by thick fleshy underground rhizomes...great to fill a water garden, or in a summer-flooded boggy area.